The Goodbye Girl

by Angela Verdenius

  Oh God, she could hardly see. Colours burst behind her eyelids, heavy arousal surging deep with every hard, rough thrust of Nick inside her. His shaft so thick, so long, so hard, tunnelling through her almost ruthlessly, plundering her depths before withdrawing from her sheath which was already starting to spasm.

  Breath catching before coming out in pants, she gave up the fight to stay on her hands, sinking onto her elbows, the movement opening her up more.

  Nick gave a grunt of satisfaction and surged deeper, harder.

  Rocked against the table, Bree felt her nerves coil, spiralling up from where she and Nick joined to needle out to her extremities. The hedonism of the position was new to her, made her feel controlled, open, just a little dirty and daring. Thrilling her.

  Control wasn’t something she gave up easily, but in Nick’s hands she was more than willing. Knowing he would see to her satisfaction, see to his own, she was free to fly, to let her emotions run wild with the sensations coursing through her. Heat, fire, carnality, it swept her along in a fiery desire that climbed higher, Nick pushing her upwards with every powerful pump of his hips, every shove deep inside her with his shaft.

  He changed angle, hitting that spot he seemed to find so unerringly when seeking it, pounding it ruthlessly, never giving her leeway, not letting her wriggle free in ecstasy, holding her hips, forcing her to accept the erotic pleasure he gave her.

  Pushing her out, shoving her hard over the peak with harsh pumps, casting her out into an organism that had her screaming his name.

  He hit his peak, hands holding her close, fingers digging in as he held her hard to him, shaft shoved deep, hips trying to pump but he was too close, they were too close. His shaft jerked deep inside her, jerked again, and Nick kept pushing, her name a rasping growl that filled the air.

  By the time she finally drifted down, it was to find Nick slumped over her, his hot breaths panting onto her back.

  “Oh, wow,” she said weakly.

  Nick stirred, kissed her back, licked a small spot tenderly before he straightened and pulled out of her.

  Pushing upright, she reached down for her slacks, only to have big hands come either side, long fingers grip the slacks and her panties, and yank them up her legs.

  “If you don’t want round two right now, cover up that pretty arse and muff.”

  Blushing, she pulled her shirt down and straightened her cardigan. The man could make her blush like no one’s business. But man, he made her feel pretty, made her feel fragile and cherished.

  Smiling, she glanced over her shoulder at him to find him zipping his jeans while watching her with languorous eyes. A hint of heat still smouldered deep with the green. He still desired her, she could see it. It wouldn’t take much to have him bend her over the table for round two.

  “You’re insatiable,” she said primly, ignoring the flush of heat that went through her.

  “Only with you, honey.”

  She dimpled at him.

  He grinned back, bent forward and kissed her. And kissed her again. And then a little deeper.

  As much as she wanted to carry it further, as much as she craved to carry it further, she managed to act responsible. Placing a hand on his chest, she put some space between them. “Down, boy. I have to go back to work shortly and I need to eat first.”

  “You could call in sick.”

  “Can’t, we have a full book this afternoon. Now wash your hands while I put the kettle on.”

  “Why would I want to wash my hands?” he asked innocently.

  “Because you’ve had them…places.”

  “Mmm.” His eyes half closed, a gleam evident. “Nice places. Warm places. Wet places.”

  Blushing again, she nevertheless managed to look him right in the eyes while pointing at the doorway. “Go.”

  He sighed.

  “If you’re a good boy now,” she bargained, “I’ll let you teach me to give a blow job.”

  In a second his eyes went from lazy teasing to sexually carnal.

  “Holy crap! Later!” She pointed at the doorway again. “Go now and the lesson can be tonight.”

  For a second she thought he was simply going to grab her - and boy, didn’t that make her start getting all hot and not responsible at all – but then he sucked in a deep breath, got visible control of himself, looked her in the eye, rasped, “It’s a deal” and left the room.

  Her knees actually felt a little weak.

  Disregarding the whole idea of a hot drink, Bree raided the ‘fridge and made iced coffees. She certainly needed cooling down, and whoo boy, Nick definitely needed to put the fire out.

  Sitting at the table, she unwrapped her salad roll and took a bite. She managed to be eating quite calmly by the time he returned. Taking the chair opposite her, he slouched back while pulling off the plastic wrap, watching her the whole time.

  “Don’t try to unnerve me,” she said.

  “Am I unnerving you?” he teased.

  The light note was back in his tone, but she could tell from the glint in his eyes that he hadn’t forgotten their deal.

  Neither had she. Hell, she looked forward to tonight. But first things first, she had Mrs Browning’s hair to perm. Tonight was still hours off but when it came around… She grinned at Nick.

  His returned grin was undeniably wolfish.

  “You have no shame,” she said.

  “Honey, I love having sex with you. Down and dirty or sweet and gentle. I especially love your willingness to experiment. What’s to be ashamed of?”

  “You’re a naughty boy, Nick. I’m surprised Harly never warned me.”

  “Harly never sees this side of me. It’s all for you, baby.” He took a big bite of salad roll, chewed, swallowed and repeated with supreme satisfaction, “All for you.”

  And the thing was, he spoke the truth. It made Bree feel supremely satisfied herself. But there was one last thing to say. “Oh, and you’re never to tell Alex and Harly we shagged on their kitchen table.”

  “Sure.” He shrugged. “No problem.”

  “Good.” She took a mouthful of iced coffee.

  “Mind you, when I look at this table, I’ll always see you bent over it with your pants around your knees.”

  She choked on the iced coffee.

  Leaning across the table, Nick kindly handed her a napkin. When she finally managed to breath without choking, he added, “Next time we christen your table.”

  Going by the lustful glint in his eyes and the sexually charged smile that gave a flash of his white teeth, Bree was pretty sure the table wasn’t the only thing in danger of getting christened at her place.

  Luckily, she was more than willing. Unluckily, she had to return to work.

  Nick saw her back out to the van, lingered at the window as she started the engine. With a tender smile, he reached in to flick her lightly on the tip of her nose. “Have a good day at work, honey.”

  “Sweetie,” she cooed back, “you just have your pecker all cleaned and polished and waiting for me tonight.”

  She left him standing in the driveway with his mouth hanging open.

  Bree grinned all the way back to town.

  ~*~

  Swiping his arm across his forehead, Nick put the nail gun down and straightened to inspect his work. The picket fence he’d placed not far from Bree’s house to contain the vegetable garden was sturdy, the ornate tops he’d carved on the ends adding a touch of flair. He checked the swing gate, nodding his satisfaction as it swung easily. The latch he’d screwed into it clipped it shut, and he’d added a hook and eye so that she could peg the gate back as needed.

  Yep, it was a damned good job if he did say so himself. And he’d loved every minute of it. He’d certainly rediscovered his love for handy work.

  Packing up the tools, he returned them to the shed before going to find Bree to inform her that the fence was finished.

  By her squeal of delight, it sounded like she’d already seen it and was pleased.

  Smil
ing, he walked around the side of the house to find Bree on the other side of the fence, her fingertips tracing the ornate ends of the picket fence.

  “Oh, Nick!” Delighted awe filled her pretty face. “Oh, Nick!”

  “You like it?” Arms folded, he watched in pleasure as she turned full circle in the fenced off area.

  “It’s perfect. It’s just – oh, Nick.”

  He chuckled. “Glad it meets with your approval.”

  Swinging open the gate, Bree raced through it to throw herself into his waiting arms and press kisses across his face. “It’s perfect! It’s wonderful! Oh, Nick, thank you!”

  More than willing to hold her luscious body against his and accept those sweet kisses from her lush lips, he hugged her. “No worries, honey. It was my pleasure.”

  Arms still around his neck, Bree looked over her shoulder. “In the last two weeks you’ve managed to get the vegetable garden beds dug and bordered, put a picket fence around it, set up a sprinkler system, bordered off another garden in a wonderful circle for my roses and have a sprinkler system set up there, finished painting my window frames and put cat doors in the front and back doors with little locks so I can lock the cats in at night. Oh, Nick!”

  “Honey, this is your house now. I want to make sure it’s in the best possible state before I go back.”

  He felt her arms hug him tighter at the reminder of the short time they had left together. Regret filled him, a sharp pang at the idea of parting from her, unable to see or hold her for who knew how many months. Even five months was way too bloody long but it couldn’t be helped. It was what it was, and Bree, God bless her, never pushed him for his decision, leaving it solely to him to work out.

  Because she loved him.

  He knew it, felt it in every touch, every burst of laughter, every merry twinkle of her eyes. When he appeared, he saw the little spark that lit her eyes, the way she unconsciously leaned towards him when he drew near, the subtle shift of her body closer to him when he stood by her side.

  God, he loved her so much.

  Bree turned her face up to his, her eyes serious. “Nick, this is your house, too.”

  His heart contracted then swelled. “Bree…”

  “When you come home, it’ll be to here. I’ll always be here waiting for you, your home will be waiting. You’re not alone anymore.”

  Jesus, could she fill him any further with her total love? “Neither are you.” Leaning down, he kissed her tenderly. “Together, always.”

  “Regardless of the miles, Nick, always together.” She smiled a little tearily. “I’ll even send you proper photos.”

  “That’s my Goodbye Girl.” His kiss was deeper, trying to pour his love into it, to let her know how much she meant to him.

  “No more goodbyes,” she whispered right before kissing him back just as deeply.

  ~*~

  Much, much later, replete from a bout of lovemaking that had been sweet and gentle, Nick lounged on the swing chair, Bast asleep beside him, Sheba screeching happily to him from where she perched on the railing.

  Yeah, he could live like this. He could imagine coming home from work in the late afternoons to Bree and these two miscreants. The peace of the countryside, the satisfaction of work well-done, and a home filled with love and laughter.

  Sipping on the hot coffee that Bree had brought out for him along with a plate of chocolate biscuits, he sighed in satisfaction.

  Yeah, this was exactly what he wanted. Everything he wanted and needed was right here in Whicha.

  Charlotte’s old clanker of a car pulled into the driveway, and he watched in mild interest as she came barrelling out, her lined cheeks flushed with excitement.

  “Nick! Where’s Bree?” she demanded.

  “Right here.” Bree swung the door open, a cup of tea in her hand. “What’s happened?”

  “They’ve found weird footprints down near the creek!”

  “Footprints?”

  “Three-toed, large. It has to be an-”

  “Emu?” Nick suggested lazily.

  “Those three-toed footprints have boot treads underneath, young man, so no need to be flippant.”

  “Sorry.” Grinning, he swallowed a mouthful of coffee.

  Bree came to stand on the edge of the veranda. That gave him a good view, and man, he liked it. A lot. All lush curves and sass, fun and delight, big bosom and a luscious backside he loved to grab.

  “Who found these prints?” She queried. “And where do they go?”

  “I knew something was up when I saw that young Ken whispering to his friend Braden. I tell you, I had to drag it out of him. Boys wanted to keep it their secret, taking photos to send to the newspapers, but I sorted them out.” Charlotte winked and tapped the side of her nose.

  “Ken and his friend,” Bree echoed.

  Yep, Nick knew exactly what she was thinking.

  Obvisuly so did Charlotte. “Bree, I’m telling you, those boys tried to keep this a secret. Dan is heading for the creek now for a look and so am I. I want you to come.”

  “I think Dan can handle it.”

  “Come on, Bree. This could be it, the find.”

  Bree glanced at Nick, and he could see the curiosity in her eyes.

  Amused, he stood and drained the last of his coffee. “Sure, why not?”

  “Are you sure?” she queried.

  Moving up beside her, he dropped a kiss on top of her head. “Let’s go, honey. We haven’t been on a hunt for awhile. Besides, this should be interesting.”

  A grin of delight crossed her face.

  Charlotte beamed. “Follow me.”

  Nick wasn’t so sure about following her, not with the way she drove. He kept the Landcruiser well behind her, especially on the dusty track they turned down.

  Bree laughed. “Scared of a stone chipping the paint on your widdle car?”

  “I’ll give you ‘widdle car’ in a minute. That woman drives like a bat out of hell. I’m not surprised she ended up in a ditch. I’m thinking she’s heading for another ditching very soon if she keeps driving like that.”

  “Maybe you could bring home a tank for her.”

  “Might be a bit big.”

  “What about one of them Hummer things?”

  “It’d never survive her driving.” He winced as the old Holden sedan bounced over a bump in the road. “Bugger me, I swear the back tyres left the road then.”

  “You might need counselling after this.”

  “She might need a body bag.”

  “I think she has things under control,” Bree assured him, adding as they watched the old car skid on the gravel as Charlotte manoeuvred it in a tight curve around the bend in the road, “Or maybe not.”

  “We need drivers like her in Afghanistan.”

  They came out into a parking area, which already had a cop car, Ted’s work ute, and another car with SOW proudly stuck to the side.

  Nick started laughing.

  Bree winced. “I tried to tell them.”

  Pulling in behind the cop car, well away from where Charlotte parked her car, Bree and Nick got out and followed her along the little track that wove down to the river bank and along it, meandering through trees.

  The ground was a little treacherous and Nick finally placed himself between Charlotte and Bree so that he could help either of them if they started sliding – or God forbid on Charlotte’s side – fall into the creek.

  Voices sounded, became louder, and then a small clearing came into sight. Dan, Ted, David and Alfred looked up.

  “Looks like we’ve got a real mystery here, Charlotte,” Alfred called out.

  Hurrying across to him, she peered down at the tracks. “Oh my, they are big.”

  Dan raised one eyebrow at Bree and Nick. “So, what’s the expert opinion?”

  Nick looked at Bree.

  Walking forward, she said, “I don’t have an opinion yet.”

  “Well, look there.” David pointed at the footprints. “What about these?”r />
  Nick had to agree they weren’t the kind of footprints that came from an emu, unless the emu had custom made boots.

  Bree squatted down for a closer look, Charlotte and Alfred immediately following her example, their avid gazes on her.

  Dan, after one eye roll at Nick, squatted down opposite Bree.

  Scowling down at the prints, Ted stood behind Alfred with his hands on his hips. “Sure don’t look human.”

  “Unless the poor bastard has three big toes only,” Dan said.

  “This no laughing matter, constable,” Charlotte admonished him. “This is a serious investigation.”

  Nick’s gaze wandered to David. He looked serious, his gaze switching from the group to the footprints and back.

  “The prints come from the water,” Dan said. “Lead up into the bushes and disappear, then come back to the water.”

  They all stood and walked to the edge of the creek bank. Nick wandered over to check out the prints. Yep, they did appear at the edge. Slowly, they all followed the prints to the bushes.

  Nick could see where several broken branches were, the grass pressed down, before the prints turned and went back to the water’s edge.

  “Well, it’s just some prints.” Dan scratched the back of his head.

  “Aren’t you going to do something?” Charlotte demanded. “Take photos? Evidence?”

  “Of what? A three-toed emu wearing boots?”

  Nick gave a snort of laughter.

  Dan grinned at him.

  Alfred grabbed the camera hanging around his neck and started taking shots. “I’ll record the evidence, Charlotte. It can be the first in our gallery of Unexplained Whicha Happenings.”

  Hands in pockets, Nick looked at Bree. She was standing at the edge of the creek, hands on ample hips, lush lips pursed as she thought.

  Turning, she looked at Dan. “I think these are fake.”

  Alfred stopped photographing. “What?”

  “Anyone could have come here in a boat, put on some fake boots or something and made these prints.”

  “”How can you wear boots like this?” Charlotte asked. “Who in God’s creation could fit boots like this, except for the greys?”